Routing networks for use with watermark systems

ABSTRACT

A watermark embedded in a content (e.g., a printed document, digital audio, etc.) includes data that associates the content with a remote store of related data. For example, an image watermark may contain an index value that identifies a database record specifying (a) the owner&#39;s name; (b) contact information; (c) license terms and conditions, (d) copyright date, (e) whether adult content is depicted, etc., etc. Or a magazine advertisement may contain an index value that identifies a database record specifying a related URL. Sometimes there are several back-and-forth exchanges between the decoding device and the database. To speed response time, it is desirable that this traffic be exchanged with a database that is located close—in network proximity—to the device that decodes the watermark. In one embodiment this is accomplished by first querying a master database with the zip code, or other identifier, of the decoding device. The first database then responds by identifying a second, nearby database with which further traffic should be exchanged.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

[0001] This application claims priority from provisional application60/257,822, filed Dec. 21, 2000.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present invention relates to routers, and more particularlyrelates to routers used in linking to computer resources based on datarepresented in digital watermarks, bar codes, or the like.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Digital watermarking is the science of encoding physical andelectronic objects with plural-bit digital data, in such a manner thatthe data is essentially hidden from human perception, yet can berecovered by computer analysis. In physical objects, the data may beencoded in the form of surface texturing, or printing. Such marking canbe detected from optical scan data, e.g., from a scanner or web cam. Inelectronic objects (e.g., digital audio or imagery—including video), thedata may be encoded as slight variations in sample values. Or, if theobject is represented in a so-called orthogonal domain (also termed“non-perceptual,” e.g., MPEG, DCT, wavelet, etc.), the data may beencoded as slight variations in quantization values or levels. Thepresent assignee's U.S. Pat. No. 6,122,403, and application Ser. No.09/503,881, are illustrative of certain watermarking technologies.

[0004] Watermarking can be used to tag objects with a persistent digitalidentifier, and as such finds myriad uses. Some are in the realm ofdevice control—e.g., tagging video data with a do-not-copy flag that isrespected by compliant video recorders. (The music industry's SecureDigital Music Initiative (SDMI), and the motion picture industry's CopyProtection Technical Working Group (CPTWG), are working to establishstandards relating to watermark usage for device control.) Otherwatermark applications are in the field of copyright communication,e.g., indicating that an audio track is the property of a particularcopyright holder.

[0005] The present invention most particularly concerns watermarkapplications that encode data to associate an object with a store ofrelated data. For example, an image watermark may contain an index valuethat serves to identify a database record specifying (a) the owner'sname; (b) contact information; (c) license terms and conditions, (d)copyright date, (e) whether adult content is depicted, etc., etc. (Thepresent assignee's MarcCentre service provides such functionality.)

[0006] Another watermark application that encodes data to associate anobject with a store of related data, is so-called “connected content”technology. In such applications, a watermark in one content object(e.g., a printed magazine article) serves to link to a related contentobject (e.g., a web page devoted to the same topic). The watermark canliterally encode an electronic address of the related content object,but more typically encodes an index value that identifies a databaserecord containing that address information. Application 09/571,422details a number of connected-content applications and techniques. Thepresent assignee markets such technology under the brand “DigimarcMediaBridge.” In the Digimarc MediaBridge offering, the system thatassociates object identifiers with corresponding computer resources istermed the “Grand Central” router.

[0007] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a singlerouter is not used. Instead, several routers are available, and areutilized in manners designed to speed system response time.

[0008] The foregoing and other features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0009] To speed response time in systems like those referenced above(including the Digimarc MediaBridge application detailed in application09/571,422), it is desirable that the responding system be locatedclose—in network terms—to the client application or device.

[0010] It has been the intent from the outset to have more than oneDigimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router, and to field them at variouslocations throughout the US and internationally.

[0011] Based on the location of the user (using the country code orpostal code they have stored on their computer or have given to Digimarcduring the software registration process), we communicate with aspecific Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router located closest tothem geographically (or network-geographically).

[0012] When a user connects between their PC and a website hosted on acomputer somewhere else in the world, the connection is not normally asingle connection between just those two computers. The Internet isn'tbuilt that way. The Internet takes the user's request (specified via theUniform Resource Locator—URL) and routes the user through whateverintermediary computers, routers and switches that seem appropriate atthe time of the user's request. This mechanism is similar in many waysto making a long distance phone call. Each of the connections through anintermediary is called a ‘hop’. Typically, the further away the URL isgeographically located on the world-wide web, the more ‘hops’ it takesto make the connection. The more ‘hops’ the more latency is introducedas each intermediary point and the slower the actual response and theless reliable the connection.

[0013] All communication between the Digimarc MediaBridgereader/detector application and the Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Centralrouter is accomplished by sending messages back and forth over theInternet. One of the ways that Digimarc improves the reliability of itsservice and can slightly increase its speed is to minimize the ‘hops’ inthe user's connection with the Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Centralrouter. The simplest way to do this is to find the Digimarc MediaBridgeGrand Central router geographically closest to the user.

[0014] One approach to this goal works as follows:

[0015] The reader/detector queries a “master” router when thereader/detector application is first invoked, sending along the countryor postal code from the user's computer.

[0016] The “master” router matches the country or postal code to theappropriate Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router—the one closest tothe user and sends that reply back to the reader/detector application.

[0017] The reader/detector application now uses this supplied closestDigimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router for all future communicationsrequired to perform its ID to action association functions.

[0018] A simple ‘hop’ map currently might look like this

[0019]  originating user in Glenmoore, Pa. 19343. Digimarc MediaBridgeGrand Central router located in Tulsa, Okla.

[0020] Glenmoore to Paoli, Pa. (ISP dial in connection point)

[0021] to Philadelphia, Pa. (Internet “hub”)

[0022] to Dallas, Tex. (Internet “hub”)

[0023] to Tulsa, Okla. (Internet “hub”)

[0024] to Digimarc Offices in Tulsa, Okla.

[0025] With a second Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router locatedin Philadelphia, the ‘hop’ map looks like

[0026] Glenmoore to Paoli, Pa. (ISP dial in connection point)

[0027] to Philadelphia, Pa. (Internet “hub”)

[0028] to Philadelphia Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router

[0029] If the second Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router islocated in New York, N.Y., the ‘hop’ map looks like

[0030] Glenmoore to Paoli, Pa. (ISP dial in connection point)

[0031] to Philadelphia, Pa. (Internet “hub”)

[0032] to NY, N.Y. (Internet “hub”)

[0033] to NY Digimarc MediaBridge Grand Central router

[0034] Application Ser. No. 09/571,422 also disclosed methods forhandling watermark-based requests from client applications based, e.g.,on the watermark's “type” and “number.”

[0035] In an enhanced system, the client application can specify arouter/product handler, allowing the Back Office facility to better loadbalance versus the associated watermark registry database. The clientapplication can do this by appending a router name/number to the basicURL it now uses to communicate with the Back Office. Each of these“type-specific” Back Office router/product handlers can be responsiblefor servicing a specific, smaller portion of the entire registrydatabase, speeding up their performance and keeping the consumer'sperceived response time short.

[0036] This enhancement can be in addition to the “geographic routing”feature detailed above.

[0037] To provide a comprehensive disclosure without unduly lengtheningthis specification, the patents and applications cited in thisspecification are incorporated herein by references.

[0038] Having described and illustrated the subject technologies withreference to illustrative embodiments, it should be recognized that theinvention is not so limited. For example, while the illustrativeembodiment employed digital watermarking technology, the same principlescan be applied in other contexts, such as bar code-based systems.Systems for linking to computer resources based on bar code indicia areshown, e.g., in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,314,457, 6,154,738, 6,108,656, and5,913,210.

[0039] The implementation of the functionality described above(including watermark decoding) is straightforward to artisans in thefield, and thus not further belabored here. Conventionally, suchtechnology is implemented by suitable software, stored in long termmemory (e.g., disk, ROM, etc.), and transferred to temporary memory(e.g., RAM) for execution on an associated CPU. In otherimplementations, the functionality can be achieved by dedicatedhardware, or by a combination of hardware and software. Reprogrammablelogic, including FPGAs, can advantageously be employed in certainimplementations.

[0040] It should be recognized that the particular combinations ofelements and features in the detailed embodiments are exemplary only;the interchanging and substitution of these teachings with otherteachings in this and the incorporated-by-reference patents/applicationsare also contemplated.

[0041] In view of the wide variety of embodiments to which theprinciples and features discussed above can be applied, it should beapparent that the detailed embodiments are illustrative only and shouldnot be taken as limiting the scope of the invention. Rather, I claim asmy invention all such modifications as may come within the scope andspirit of the following claims and equivalents thereof.

I claim:
 1. In a method that includes: presenting a physical object toan optical sensor; discerning from optical sensor data an identifierassociated with the object; transferring the identifier to an indexingsystem; and determining from the indexing system an internet addresscorresponding to said object; an improvement comprising: sending userdata to a master system, the user data providing information related touser location at said master system, identifying an indexing systemclose to the user; and transferring said identifier to said identifiedindexing system.